Item - 2023.EX10.18

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to post prominently on the Open Data Portal, links to the following documents:

a.  Open Data Policy (2011);

b.  Open Data Master Plan (2018);

c.  Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework (2022); and

d.  Open Data Centralization and Policy Update (2023).

2.  City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to create and report on an Annual Open Data Compliance Plan that would include:

a.  Open Data staff sharing a list of datasets their City agencies and corporations plan to publish or need to remove;

b.  details on how agencies and corporations actively promote their public datasets through civic engagement activities; and

c.  after a close review by the Open Data Team, and possible revision by the submitting agency and corporation, having the information compiled into a plan that offers a glimpse into what would be shared on City of Toronto Open Data Portal.

3.  City Council request the Chief Technology Officer to create a “Table of Contents” for the datasets listing in the Open Data Portal similar to the one used by New York City.

As directed by City Council at its meeting on June 6, 2023, this report provides an update on developing and implementing a centralized platform and associated compliance standards to ensure that open datasets are made available on a basis consistent with the City’s established policy for accessing open data. It summarizes the latest changes made to centralize data onto the platform and increase the frequency and quality of open datasets made available.

The City of Toronto is one of the Canadian pioneers of municipal Open Data. The Open Data Portal, launched in 2009, the City's centralized platform for public access of City open data. Open Data is machine-readable data that is freely available, easy to access, and simple to reuse.

The City adopted an Open Data Policy (2011) and Open Data Master Plan (2018) which  embrace open data principles and support the City's Open Government commitment to improve the delivery of services, make information more accessible and support initiatives that build public trust in government. The Open Data program also aligns with the Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework (2022) which identifies democracy and transparency as principles and highlights the importance of open data.

Making it easier to bring data into the Open Data Portal, further embedding open data requirements as part of existing City processes and establishing a central open data intake system will further centralize City open data and improve the timeliness of open data releases.

As part of implementing a centralized platform and associated compliance standards for open data, the Chief Technology Officer will refresh the City's Open Data Policy, including enhanced roles and responsibilities for accountability, compliance and centralization of publishing data sets to the Open Data Portal.